Bishop Nick Takes Up New Residence Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Branch of Issue 008 CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale Winter 2013 King William IV King William IV is a traditional drinking pub serving an ever changing range of Cask Real Ales and Ciders Chelmsford and Mid Essex CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year 2013 Our aim is to provide a variety of quality beverages in a casual and traditional environment to appeal to a wide range of customers. We do not offer cooked meals, leaving plenty of room in our compact pub for you to enjoy your drink. The extensive Gardens are host to many events throughout the year such as Beer Festivals and Musical entertainment. See website for details of our events. Opening Times: Mon-Thu 3pm - 12 pm Fri, Sat & Sun 12noon - 12pm 114 London Road, Braintree, CM77 7PU 01376 567755 kingwilliamiv.co.uk From country wide cask ale and cider, to imported German lager and worldwide bottled beers, no matter what you drink, the Ale House is the place for you. Open Mon - Thu: 11am to 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 12am; Sun - 11am - 10pm Each week there is a selection of 12 real ales, a number of ciders, a selection of German lagers on tap and a wide range of imported bottled beers from around the world. 24-26 Viaduct Road, Chelmsford, CM1 1TS 01245 260535 alehouse.chelmsford.7 @Alehouse_Cford www.the-ale-house-chelmsford.co.uk 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! Pub News Reports in Pub News are provided by local restaurant, and a new name – The Railway. CAMRA members, licensees and Thirsty A sign of the times? Greene King have put 2 Times readers. Further news of changes at pubs up for sale – The Queen’s Head in local pubs is very welcome. Please send Braintree and the Rose & Crown in Bocking news to [email protected]. – as their new pub, Branocs Tree at nearby It’s “Goodbye” to our friends Peter and Great Not- Elaine at the Windmill, Chatham Green. ley, opens. They have not moved far – to the Red Lion This Hun- at Finchingfield, so our loss is North West gry Horse Essex’s gain. They intend to continue to establish- offer beers from Growler, Wibblers & Brent- ment was wood. The Windmill has featured in our full of din- ‘Recommended Pubs’ guide since 2009 so ers from we will miss them and wish them well in day one but there is a small area for drink- their new venture. ers with 2 GK and a guest ale available. If you hadn’t guessed Branoc’s Tree may Another Goodbye is in the offing as Dave & have been the origin of the name for Brain- Maggie at the Woolpack in Chelmsford will tree. be leaving in May 2014 after 9 years at the pub. More on this in our next issue but Dave Elsewhere in Braintree the Silkworm has assures me it’s business as usual until then, closed. Its owners – The Bramwell Pub including a first mini Winter Beer Festival Company – have gone into administration. from 27th to 29th December featuring The ‘Proud of our Ale’ festival at the Golden mainly Christmas ales and winter warmers Fleece in Chelmsford was “a phenomenal but with a 9 of Summer Lightning for those success” reports with Seasonal Affective Disorder! The landlord Brett, monthly open mic night will be held on the with sales in- final evening. creased by 90% The Wagon & over last year. 50 Horses in different ales Braintree has a were featured. new landlord – The good news is David, who also that the Fleece continues to offer CAMRA runs the Or- members 20% discount off their ales. During ange Tree in December the ‘12 ales of Christmas’ will Braintree. The feature Christmas ales from many different pub was relaunched in November with a breweries. As usual over Christmas they will Halloween beer festival. The pub will feature have lots of entertainment on and entry will local real ales and home cooked food. be free on all nights including Christmas and New Year's Eve. The Fleece continues to The Albert in Witham remains closed follow- raise money for Cancer Research UK, ing the fire but the owners – Star Pubs & £2,500 so far, with a new target of £3,000 by Bars (Heineken) - are refurbishing it and it February 2014. www.thegoldenfleece- will reopen in the New Year as a pub with a chelmsford.co.uk Thirsty Times 008 Winter 2013 3 Pub News Continuing last issue’s theme of Pubs and sively refurbished and is looking fantastic. A Charity, not ‘12 days of Christmas’ Beer Festival, starts content with on 13th December, running through to supporting one Christmas Day and features 20+ ales and charity the cus- ciders. Their new cask ale bar will be com- tomers at the missioned early in the New Year, increasing Rodney, Little the number of ales on tap to 14! Baddow are www.whitehartinwitham.co.uk raising money The Ale House, Chelmsford also continues for three, a Quiz Night for Farleigh Hospice (£100), Chocoholics, pool and a New Year’s Eve do will bring in £300 for Help the He- roes, a firework display and crib £400 for the Essex Air Ambulance. Well done to them. If you’re quick you can try their 3 course Christmas menu for only £12! http:// therodneyinn.co.uk Greek evenings with Bouzouki music have to offer an amazing range of beers plus live proved a resounding success at the Cricket- music on most Wednesdays and Saturdays ers at Fryerning. See in December. They are offering free admis- www.thecricketersfryerning.co.uk for details sion on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve of the next one in January. In the run-up to with no ticket required. Christmas they have 2 Abba Christmas www.alehousechelmsford.co.uk Party Nights (you’ll need to book a table) Mixed fortunes for some of our recently and good old-fashioned carol singing in the closed pubs. It looks as though 2 of them bar (with piano) on 16th December. may join the long list of conversions to su- The Eagle at Galleywood held their first permarkets. After positive-looking planning Beer, and Sausage, Festival in September. applications for the King’s Head in Braintree It was a great success with 20 beers, 12 it now looks likely to become a Tesco. types of sausage and live music in a mar- Also the Brakspear pub in Witham – the quee. Philip, the landlord, says he can’t wait Jack and Jenny, closed since 2011, is re- for next year. Keep up to date by going to ported as sold to a property developer and http://eaglepub.co.uk and get details of their Morrisons are looking to convert it to a su- 70/80's Dinner and Disco on New Year’s permarket. Eve. Not far away though the new pub built by The White Hart at Witham has been exten- Marstons on Gershwin Boulevard – The Old Pottery Kiln - is scheduled to open as we go to press. The ex-Ridleys Red Lion in New London Road has reopened as a restaurant – the New London. Another former Ridleys pub, the New Barn in Chelmsford, looks likely to 4 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! be demolished and replaced by a mixture of house and flats; planning permission has been granted. The former Royal Oak in Braintree has re- opened as The Pub. No reports yet. The future also looks bright for the White Hart, Little Waltham which is still wrapped in scaffolding and obviously undergoing a lot of refurbishment. We believe it has been bought by the owners of the Axe & Com- passes at Aythorpe Roding and the Angel & Harp at Great Dunmow, both of which offer a range of beers and good value food. Just up the road, the St Anne’s Castle at Great Leighs has a temporary manager who still offers 3 real ales whilst it awaits refur- bishment to turn it into a “modern and stylish food destination outlet”. We must wait and see … RAILWAY TAVERN John & Joy welcome all old and new customers. Gerry and Sue Fine welcome selection of drinkers and diners alike. well-kept ever changing We have real ales, good wine, home real ales. cooked food using fresh, local and seasonal produce. Home cooked food served 10.00am – 2.30pm. Functions catered for. Secluded beer garden. Tel: 01371 820245. Duke Street, Chelmsford Station Road, Felsted, CM6 3DG CM1 1LW www.theswaninn-felsted.co.uk 012 4528 0679 Thirsty Times 008 Winter 2013 5 Chelmsford Winter Beer and Cider Festival 2014 Here we go again we shout - Yes it’s the Who best place to be: Chelmsford CAMRA Win- All our CAMRA staff are volunteers and ter Beer and Cider Fest at KEGS in give up their time to build, serve at and Chelmsford. Over 200 Beers, over 50 Ci- take down the festival and do this for fun. ders, International Beers, Local Wine and The Committee have been planning the Hot and Cold Food. Certainly worth the visit festival since September making sure it all to Chelmsford City! goes to plan. Where and When How After the huge success of last year at the This year for the first time we will be using King Edward VI Grammar School we are Beer Cards instead of cash at the bars as back there again from Wednesday 19th – many other CAMRA festivals do.